"This makes it official—while there is less building taking place in Israel, they [the government] keep building the settlements. Unfortunately that is the Israeli government's response to the Arab peace initiative and [U.S. Secretary of State John] Kerry's visit to the region."-- Peace Now Director Yariv Oppenheimer on the announcement of a 176% rise in settlement construction.
- Israeli forces shoot, injure farmer in southern Gaza - A 21-year-old farmer was seriously wounded after being shot in the chest by Israeli soldiers stationed near the border, east of Khan Younis. Last week, Ahmad Hamdin, 21, was shot by Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza while picking watermelons. (Maan)
- PA official: Settlers destroy 2,500 olive trees in June - Settlers uprooted and burned the olive trees in the Nablus area since the beginning of June, destroying the main source of income for villagers in the area.The areas primarily affected were the villages of Awarta, Burin, Azmut and Deir al-Hatab, all in close proximity to Israeli settlements. (Maan)
- Palestinian Authority: Israel forging documents for settlement construction - Israeli construction companies have been forging documents to transfer land to Israel for the construction of settlements in the northern West Bank district of Salfit. Twenty five cases were discovered. (Maan)
- Israeli forces issue 8 demolition orders in Silwan - Israeli forces on Mondayhanded down eight demolition orders to homes and and a car wash in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan. The residential properties are home to dozens of people from three families. (Maan)
- Defense Minister Ya'alon bars Fatah's Jibril Rajoub from entering Israel for Meretz conference - Meretz chairwoman, MK Zahava Gal-On, said the decision was politically motivated. (Haaretz+)
- Initiative for Basic Law: Israeli Arabs to receive autonomy - Balad party proposes legislative bill requesting to recognize Arab citizens as "indigenous peoples" and giving them cultural and social autonomy. MK Zahalka: "It's possible that in the future we will demand our national and political rights."(Maariv, p. 1/NRG Hebrew)
- Former soldiers in the IDF's Unit 8200 are helping the US administration - In the US they claim that Israeli Verint and Narus companies, many of whose employees are from the former IDF intelligence unit, were a central part of the FBI's method for collecting information. (Maariv, p. 1/NRG Hebrew)
- UN rights envoy: Gaza's viability at stake - Human rights investigator accuses Israel of imposing collective punishment, seeks inquiry on alleged torture of Palestinian inmates; Israel, US boycott debate at UN rights forum. (Agencies, Ynet)
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